MANILA – Stefanie Berberabe turned defense into history, setting a Women’s Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League (WMPBL) record with 14 steals as the Tagaytay-Tol Patriots rolled past RK Hoops-Quezon City, 72-58, on Wednesday night at Montano Hall.
The Gilas Pilipinas Women star delivered a near-quadruple-double with 12 points, 11 rebounds, and eight assists, snapping the Patriots’ two-game skid and reviving their playoff drive with a 3-6 record.
“I love playing with this team,” Berberabe said. “Every time I get to step on the court, I just don’t take it for granted. I always want to give my all and never give up.”
Berberabe, who only weeks ago made league history with the WMPBL’s first quadruple-double, once again showed her all-around brilliance as Tagaytay kept its hopes for a twice-to-beat edge alive.
Tagaytay surged ahead with a 38-23 halftime cushion but had to fend off a third-quarter fightback by Quezon City before Berberabe and Justine Domingo restored order with a run that stretched the lead to 18.
“In a way, happy kasi nanalo kami, pero siyempre ‘di kami satisfied sa win dahil ang goal namin is to play much, much better para sa mga upcoming games. Siyempre, dahil papaunta na tayo sa importanteng phase ng tournament eh,” said Patriots head coach Tito Reyes.
Domingo scored 11 points, while Monique Del Carmen and Danica Pacia added eight each. Team captain Luisa San Juan and Claudine Santos chipped in seven apiece.
Quezon City’s Buendia led her squad with 12 points and 10 rebounds, while Natasha Alcantara and Anna Escotido added 11 and 10 markers, respectively, in their team’s sixth straight loss for a 1-6 slate./PN
